University of Washington • Department of A R C H I T E C T U R E Revised October 2008 Master of A rchitecture Thesis Opt ions and Procedures The Graduate School at the University of Washington suggests “the master's thesis should be evidence of the graduate student’s ability to carry out independent investigation and to present the results in clear and systematic form.” Preparing a thesis assures students’ expertise in a chosen area of architecture and reinforces a systematic, critical approach to architectural design. Because the thesis is the culmination of the student’s work in the graduate program, it is of considerable importance to the student and faculty. The Department of Architecture offers two separate but equivalent ways for students to undertake their thesis investigations: the Studio Option and the Independent Option. Students should choose the option that best accommodates their goals and working methods. Master’s Thesis — Studio Option The studio option for the master’s thesis involves a student-selected architectural design project. Students work on their projects over two quarters, first in Arch 595: Master's Studio Pre-design (during the spring quarter preceding the student’s final term in the program), then in Arch 700: Master’s Thesis Studio. Students must receive signed approval from their instructor for Arch 595 before registering for Arch 700. Students in the thesis studio work with Department of Architecture faculty during their final term in the program (autumn quarter). As prerequisites for graduation, students present their final designs at a public review and submit their thesis documents to the Graduate School. The thesis document generally includes data generated in the pre-design course, documentation of the thesis project, and summary conclusions. Master’s Thesis — Independent Option The independent option for the master’s thesis is intended for students who wish to pursue thesis projects that are best undertaken with an independent thesis committee, rather than in the context of the thesis studio (e.g. because the subject matter or research method suggests direct collaboration with one or more members of the faculty, or because the project necessitates extensive travel, or because it requires more time than the thesis studio allows). The independent option provides students with an opportunity to undertake focused investigation, research, or design on an architectural topic of their choosing. Students who select this option work independently with a Thesis Supervisory Committee consisting of at least two members of the Department of Architecture faculty: a faculty mentor (usually the thesis committee chair) and a second faculty member. One member of the Thesis Advisory Committee must also be a member of the Graduate Faculty of the university. (see Attachments B and C) Registration for Arch 700: Master’s Thesis requires the preparation of a thesis proposal in Arch 599: Thesis Preparation under the supervision of the faculty mentor. The proposal must be approved by all members of the Thesis Advisory Committee before the student may register for Arch 700. As prerequisites for graduation, students present the results of their thesis investigations publicly and submit the thesis document to the Graduate School. (More detailed guidelines for the independent option can be found in “Master of Architecture Independent Thesis Option Guidelines”.) Academic Credits Both options yield 9 credits of Arch 700: Master’s Thesis, preceded by 3 credits of preparatory research for a total of 12 credits. Master of Architecture Thesis Options and Procedures Page 2 Choosing a Thesis Option It is up to students to choose the option that is most suitable to their interests and goals. Both options are equivalent, in that each fulfills the thesis requirement for the Master of Architecture degree. Except under exceptional circumstances, students in the Post-professional M. Arch. program should choose the independent thesis option. General Notes 1. Both options include a preparatory research component. 2. All Master of Architecture candidates must submit a document for approval by the Graduate School in order to receive the degree. The nature of the document is somewhat different, however, for each option. See below. 3. Although there are recommended limitations to the kinds of buildings that are undertaken in the studio option (see Attachment A) these are meant to be flexible enough to allow students to pursue their own goals. If students can justify variations from the recommended criteria, exceptions to building type, size, scope, and so on may be allowed. 4. An independent option thesis can be primarily research- or design-oriented. 5. For a student to pursue the independent option, a Faculty Mentor must concur that the proposed thesis project is more suitable to that option than to the studio option. Possible issues to consider Process • Studio option. The student develops a clear conceptual position, a well-researched building program and all relevant background analysis during Arch 595: Master’s Thesis Studio Pre- design. During the thesis studio, the student meets regularly with studio faculty and invited consultants and presents work formally at a mid review and final review. • Independent option. The student develops a literature search and theoretical framework in support of a thesis statement during Arch 599: Thesis Preparation. Students are responsible for arranging all meetings with the Supervisory Committee. Independent Thesis students present their work formally at a public defense arranged by the department. Product • Studio option. The goal of the studio option is to develop a building design whose primary mode of presentation is in the form of drawings, models, and other graphic media presented in a public forum. These must be documented and presented to the Graduate School in the thesis document. The required documentation generally involves collation of data from Arch 595: Master’s Thesis Studio Pre-design, photographic documentation of presentation materials, and summary conclusions. • Independent option. Although the independent option requires a public presentation and defense, the primary mode of presentation is a written, bound document. This will include a problem statement, theoretical framework, review of the literature, research or design methods, documentation and analysis of findings–including design outcomes if applicable– and a concluding statement on how the findings inform the problem and the theoretical framework. Faculty-student relationship • Studio option. The thesis pre-design and thesis studio faculty and consultants act as critics and advisors to the design process. Meetings are structured on a pre-determined schedule. • Independent option. Faculty with specific interests related to the subject of the thesis investigation act as mentors. They work with the student by mutual agreement at student- scheduled times appropriate to the project. Evaluation • Studio option. The studio faculty determine whether the building design and its documentation meet departmental and university standards. Master of Architecture Thesis Options and Procedures Page 3 • Independent option. The supervisory committee determines whether the final document meets departmental and university standards, with the committee chair playing a primary role in the approval process. Procedure Students use the Thesis Option Form (attached) to declare their choice of thesis option and proposed course of study before registering for thesis preparation. This allows both students and faculty to plan for upcoming quarters and for the department to plan the Master's Studio Pre-design and Thesis Studio courses. Studio Option Students who elect the studio option on the Thesis Option Form submit a brief description of the design project they intend to pursue. Students who choose the studio option will develop the building program, select and analyze the building site, do all background research, and develop the direction for the project in Arch 595. They will undertake design, presentation and final documentation of the project in Arch 700: Master’s Thesis Studio during autumn quarter. Documents must be approved and signed by all thesis studio faculty before submission to the Graduate School. Students who do not present their projects during the quarter in which they register for thesis studio generally do so in the next regular academic quarter (this does not include summer quarter), under the guidance of a committee appointed by the Department. Independent Option Students electing the independent option on the Thesis Option Form submit a preliminary thesis statement for the proposed project, identify the areas of literature they intend to investigate in forming a theoretical framework, and specify whether they plan to carry out a research or design thesis. They must also secure the signature of a faculty mentor on the Thesis Option Form before submitting it to the department (see attached schedule). Students subsequently work with the faculty mentor to select one or more additional committee members. Students who are not able to secure the signature of a faculty mentor by the submission deadline must then enroll in the thesis studio option. The graduate program coordinator helps to assure that faculty are not over-committed to thesis committees (no faculty member may mentor more than two theses per year, nor participate on more than 3 Thesis Supervisory Committees). The faculty mentor acts as the primary advisor for a